Sunday, October 23, 2011

Guest Blogger Meredith Jessica

i came across another makeup blog a while back and loved it. blogger Meredith Jessica creates some really great looks as well as some really helpful posts. she has graciously sent me her review on velour eyelashes to share with you guys which i thought might be helpful to compare with my own review of Shu Uemura lashes.

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So, a while ago Makeupbee & Velour Lashes approached me to do a look inspired by one of the lashes in the Velour Lashes line. Being from Toronto, I chose the T Dot ... Ohhh! Lashes, as they are named after this great city. However, the lashes are also inspired by Taylor Swift's signature look and are designed to emulate her beautiful feline eyes.

"Unique and special like our hometown Toronto, this lash has a personality of its own. Its funky style produces a two tone effect, with the inner section being more dramatic than the ends. This semi dramatic lash is designed with a pattern that gradually gets longer towards the ends giving you the Taylor Swift wing at the corner of the eye. These can be worn for multiple purposes whether it is for a rockin’ concert, drinks with the ladies, or a casual day out. Toronto- first class city, first class lashes." - Mabel & Angela, Velour Lashes

Naturally, I wanted to do a look directly inspired by the beautiful Ms. Swift herself. I found this gorgeous smokey blue eye she wore to an awards show and instantly fell in love.

I knew the lashes would work wonderfully with this look so I was really excited to recreate it. You can see my version of it here. The silvery blue tones are so soft and romantic, and the smokey cat-eye effect gives it the perfect amount of sultry allure. To sum it up: amazing date makeup - sexy and sweet, the perfect blend. I toned down Taylor's Cherry Pink lips to a softer nude pink to make the look more wearable but it would look pretty either way. Have a look below.

This look is so soft & romantic, but the lashes give it the perfect amount of eye-catching drama. Here is a picture of the lashes on their own so you can get the clearest view of them possible.

REVIEW: I'll start out right away by saying this - these lashes aren't cheap. They are on sale right now from $59.00 to $29.00, but even at half-price these puppies are going to cost you a pretty penny. The reason for the high price tag is partially because the lashes are made from mink (cruelty free). There are definite benefits to luxury lashes though. For starters, they go on SO nicely, they contour beautifully to your lid and they look so realistic. Even these high drama lashes are made to look as authentic as possible when you've got them on. You can also wear them up to 25 times which is a lot of mileage for falsies. Most of my other fake lashes are garbage after about five wears. If you're put off by the price, you might want to invest in one pair and save them for special occasions, they'll last years. The only major con I experienced is that the lashes are very long and this can be a bit annoying. For example, these lashes touch my brows when my eyes are open, they are THAT long. And I don't have low arched brows either. However, having spoken to Mabel & Angela I know they are thinking of shortening the lashes so this shouldn't be a problem for long.

RATING: 4.5/5 - Honestly, if I had the money I would probably invest in the entire line, they are that nice. Everyone who has worn my pair has fallen in love, myself included. However, the price is a bit high for most wallets and the super long lashes can be a big distracting.

RECOMMENDATION: I've literally worked with every single pair of lashes in the collection, upper and lower, and it's impossible for me to pick a favorite, but I highly recommend "Are Those Real" and "You Complete Me" which are some of their best sellers for their high impact, but natural look. I also really like "Oops Naughty Me" for a slightly sexier stare. Check out the site and see which pair best suit you.

Finally, I leave you with a short YouTube tutorial on how you can get this Taylor Swift look using Velour Lashes. Enjoy and have an awesome weekend!